Seven girls who used hijab to disguise themselves in a bid to travel illegally to Europe were arrested by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Katsina.
The girls are part of the 40 persons that have been arrested in the last four months as they attempted to flee Nigeria using various legal and illegal routes to Agadez in Niger Republic en route Libya then Europe.
The victims are Dennis Igbobo, Elvis Osas, Earnest Ugiagbe, Bright John, Lucky Iyare, Gift Osagie, Godday Ruth, Ovioma Gift, Otoboh Favour, Believe James, Endurance Idemadia and Marian Josiah.
One of the girls, 27-year-old Favour, who is the eldest daughter in a family of 6 and a graduate of Mass Communication, said lack of jobs prompted her to seek for other options abroad.
According to Daily Trust, some of the victims said that they were pushed by hardship and the search for better opportunities.
Mohammed Yaro Rabiu, the Comptroller of Immigration in Katsina state, who paraded the rescued victim said the hijab was used by the girls to camouflage and get easy passage at the border.
He said:
“All the rescued victims are Nigerians from Edo State and will be handed over to NAPTIP for further action,”
